“Emmie?” Olivia gripped the back of my seat.

I forced a smile for her. “Nothing bad is going to happen. I promise you.”

She looked doubtful, and it was like a punch in the gut.

“We’ll be in and out, and then Adam will come over later. You like Adam, right?”

She let go of the seat, falling back. “Yeah.”

“Okay. Good,” I whispered.

Since Olivia had successfully freaked me out, the trip to the store took longer than before. I was extra-wary of stoplights and other drivers. I breathed a sigh of relief when we pulled into the back of the packed parking lot.

Rain clouds had darkened the sky, causing several of the street lamps to flicker on. Fat drops splattered the dense woods surrounding the parking lot. I glanced at the clock on my cell, surprised to find it nearly seven o’clock.

Olivia hopped out the back, trailing behind me. “Can I push the cart?”

I welcomed the change in the mood. “Promise me you won’t run over any old people this time and it’s a deal.”

Olivia giggled as she wiggled between me and the shopping cart. There was no deal. She was death on wheels behind a shopping cart, but it helped me keep an eye on her and it would prevent another epic breakdown.

Old people, watch out.

Her head barely reached the bar as she inched the cart through the automatic doors. The place was packed for a Thursday, full of women in heels and men frowning at shopping lists.

Olivia rammed the display of bananas and then the back of my legs when I stopped to grab a bag of apples. “Beep! Beep! Beep!” She shrieked as she backed the cart up.

Limping over to the bread, I grabbed a loaf. My cell vibrated in my back pocket. Sticking the bread under my arm, I slid the beat-up thing out and flipped it open. It was a text from Adam. Any news?

Still at store. Will text u when done, I sent back.

Not even five seconds later I received, U SUCK. OK. Text me.

I grinned and headed back to the cart. I didn’t know what I’d do without Adam. It was hard to even think about it. I dropped the bread in the cart. “Olivia, what’s all over your face?”

She turned away quickly. “Nothing.”

“Whatever. There’s white powder all over your lips and—oh, my God!” I glanced around quickly, thankful no one was around us. “Did you eat the doughnuts again? They’re not free, Olivia!”

“No!”

“You’re such a little liar.” I knelt down in front of her, wiping off her lips with the sleeve of my cardigan, trying not to laugh. “I can’t believe you did that.”

“They shouldn’t put them out if they’re not free.”

My mouth dropped open, and then I cracked up. “You are so rotten.”

Giggling, she squirmed out of my grasp. There were no more eating food incidents, thank God. I got everything on the list, and Olivia had chosen a bag of Oreos as her cookies of choice. That made me pretty damn happy as I could already taste them. A whole row already had my name on it.